Typewriter copy holder



2,752,887 TYPEWRITER `COPY HOLDER `Louis Kling, Berkeley, Calif.

Application November 15, 195'5,Serial No. 546,995

7 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0- 28) This invention relates to a device Afor holding 'copy to be typed, on a portable `or `standard typewriter, `and more particularly has reference to a foldable or collapsible copy holder which, when `.attached to ,the paper table of a typewriter, that is, the plate is back of 4tthe platen, can be swiftly adjusted to fully collapsed or operating -positions, as desired.

Ordinarily, a copy holder is formed separately from a typewriter, and is supported upon the -desk or table adjacent the typewriter. This'requires `thattthe typist loo'k laterally at the copy during thetyping operation, and not only is this tiresome, but additionally, valuable time ,is lost in many instances due to the necessity of effecting a periodic check of the typed `copy in thetypewriter, The necessity of turning the eyestoward -and `away from the copy being typed, with the line of vision turning in la lateral direction, makes it somewhat diicult for the typist to follow the location on the copy being typed each time the head is turned back'to said copytfrom the material in the typewriter.

The main `object of the present invention is .to provide an improved copy holder,imountable directly upon a typewriter, and among more specific objects of the invention are the following:

First, to provide a copy `holder as stated which will tbe so designed as to be either readily attachable to a typewriter already in use, :or alternatively, `made a part tof-.the typewriter during the manufacture of the machine;

Second, to provide a copy holder `so designed as to result in greater speed, accuracy, economy of operation, `and convenience to the typist;

Third, to provide a copy holder which will support the copy in such a position that the typist may `look directly at the copy without moving the head laterally, since the copy will be directly in back of the material being typed,

thus to reduce the possibility of mistakes and promote in creased speed;

Fourth, to promote accuracy by reason of the particular design of the construction, brought about by increased attention to the material being copied, as a result of which greater attention can be directed toward the mechanics of paragraphing, sentence structure, and grammar;

Fifth, to provide a copy holder which will be characterized by the speed and ease with which `it may betadjusted between fully collapsed and fully extended positions;

Sixth, to so form the copy holder that when folded, it will define a straightedge which can be calibrated in inches or other measurements, with the collapsed device being disposed wholly in back of the paper table in and out of the way, fully concealed position; and

Seventh, to provide a Vcopy holder which will be particularly designed to insure the firm retention of the copy in proper position during use of the device.

Other objects will appear from the following descrip tion, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts `throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational View of `a copy holder States Patent *O 2,752,887 Patented July 3, 1956 ICC formed accordingto thetpresent invention, as itappears when in use, a typewriterandxa piece of copytbeing shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is `an enlargedp'lan view'of the copyholder perse, `in tpartiallycollapsed position;

Figure 3 is a'view of the copy holder as vseeu'from the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an `enlarged transverse sectional `View through the clarnpaneans t of the device, substantially fon line 4-4tof Figure 2; and

Figure 5 isfan enlarged transverse sectional viewl through one of the pivotal connectionsemployed in the device, taken substantially lonlineS-*S ofFigure 2.

Referring to the drawings `in detail, `the `reference inumeral 10 generally designates aconventional typewriter, which may beteither of the portable `orstandard type.

At 12 there rhas `been designated the copyholder'formed according to `the vpresent invention, shown in Figure l "in extended, operativeposition in supporting relation ftofa piece of copyi C.

The device constituting the present invention includes an elongated, -straight standard '14, which Aas shown iin Figure 2 may `becalibrated alongone or both edges`tlrereof asa't `16,With the calibi'ationsl'being offany 'desired'typ`e, as for example, graduations in inches.

Connected to the ylower end of `.the `standard `14 are identically but oppositely formed hold-down larms `T8, '20 having oppositely beveledoutertend edges. These can be calibrated as at122, 24 `correspondingly tothe calibrations 16 of `the standard, so `that `when the farms 'areafolded fin longitudinal `alignment with `the standard, `the 'calibrations of the arms twill `match Athose `of the standard to provide a continuous ustraightedge or `rule which can "be used "for measuring purposes.

The arms d8, `20 at their inner ends, are connected to the lowerfendtof `the `standard *1`41by meansfof a `screvv 26, the head of which is peripherallyigrooved. so "asto define on the'fhead ofthe -screw ared portions engaging in =com plementarily -iiared openings of the standard 11i-and arm 1S. The head of the screw thus `constitutes a hush-type rivet, `connecting "the arms to the standard `for pivotal movement oftthetarms relative to one another -aiidito `the standard.

The screw includes @a shank projecting rearwardly from the standard, on whichis threaded a wing nut 28, bearing againstta clamp elementtli, -whereby `the paper table -31 of the typewriter `may be engaged 'by the clamp element and standard, between the same. It will be understood that a suitable adapter block Ior` the like, not shown, can be employed, forthe purpose of insuring verticalitylof the standard `when the `device is -in use, to compensate foriany inclination lof the paper table. 'It is `mainly `important that when `the `device `is clamped to the paper table, the standard 14 tbe adapted for swinging movement `about `a horizontal axis deiined by thefscrew 26, between -a vertical position shown in Figure l, and 'a horizontal, folded position shown in :dotted lines in `this `ligure of the drawing. ln the horizontal, collapsed position of the device, `said device extends in contacting relation `to the paper table, so as to become, in effect,I a part of the paper table. The device will `be disposed. in front of `the paper table when `in collapsed position, so as to `permit use of the device as a straightedge on whichmeasurements of paper, ete, can be taken. Further, the device when fully folded does not interfere with normal use ofthe typewriter, since it liesflat 'against -the paper table. u

On the outer end of the standard 14 there is provided a cross member 32 pivotally connected intermediate its ends at 34 to the standard 14. Side members 36, 38 are pivotally connected at one end, as at 40, 42 respectively, to the opposite ends of the cross member 3.2, and a top or copy holding member 44 is pivotally connected at 46 to the other end of the side member 38.

No pivotal connection is employed between the top member 44 and the side member 36, but the free ends of these members overlap in the position of the device, with the top member 44 extending in front of side member 36 as shown in Figure l. The top member 44, in this connection, being of^ relatively thin material, has sufficient springability to permit it to be xed forwardly so as to extend in front of the side member 36 when the device is in use, and in fact, this inherent springiness of the top member 44 serves to cause said top member to press a piece of copy C firmly against the side member 36 when the device is in use, in a manner to be made more clearly apparent hereinafter.

It will be seen that when the device, is in use, it comprises a vertical standard having at its lower end swingably adjustable hold-down arms diverging in a direction upwardly from the lower end of the standard, with said standard having at its upper end a rectangular support frame for the copy which frame is equipped with means at its upper end (the top member 44 and the side member 36) for clampably engaging the upper end of the copy. The lower end of the copy is supported againstV the standards 14, in back of the free end portions of the hold-down arms 18, 20, so that the copy is securely clamped in a vertical position both at the upper and lower ends of the device.

In use of the device, the lower end of the copy is inserted between the standard and the arms 18, with the hold-down arms holding the copy against the standdard. The copy is firmly supported over a substantial part of its length against the standard and the frame, and at its upper end is inserted between the side member 36 and the top member 44, so as to be securely held in a vertical position in back of the material being typed, adjacent one side of the typewriter.

To fold the device to its inoperative position, one first swings the arms 18, 20 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure l, into longitudinal alignment with the standard 14. Then, arm 38 is swung about pivot 42 to the right in Figure l, in the direction of the arrow, until it is in longitudinal alignment with the cross member 32. This disposes the top member 44 vertically, in parallelism with the side member 36. The top member 44 is now swung about pivot 46 in a counterclockwise direction,`viewing the same as in Figure 1, `in back of the member 38, so as to be in longitudinal alignment with the member 38 and the cross member 32. Then, the cross member 32 is rotated counterclockwise about pivot 34 through 90 degrees in Figure l, into longitudinal alignment with the standard, and as a final step the side mem-- ber 36 is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise about pivot 40 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1, to be disposed in back of the standard 14. All the parts are now in longitudinally aligned, superposed relation, so as to appear as in dotted lines in Figure 1, with the entire device being bodily swingable counterclockwise in Figure 1 about pivot 26 into a horizontal position in front of the paper table, awaiting its next use.

It will be readily apparent that various adjusted positions of the parts can be employed, when the device is in use. For example, the hold-down arms can be swung toward or away from one another, to decrease or increase the angle of divergence thereof, according to the width and nature of the particular copy.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change 4 in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A typewriter copy holder adapted for connection to the paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard', means for pivotally'attaching said standard to the paper table for swinging movement of the standard between a horizontal position against the paper table and a vertical, use position in which it extends upwardly from the paper table; and collapsible frame means on the other end of the standard adapted for providing a back rest for a piece of copy to be typed.

2. A typewriter copy holder adapted for connection to the paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; means for pivotally attaching said standard to the paper table for swinging movement of the standard between a horizontal position against the paper table and a vertical, use position in which it extends upwardly from the paper table; collapsible frame means on the other end of the standard adapted for providing a back rest for a piece of copy to be typed; and a pair of hold-down arms connected to the standard at the first named end thereof and adapted to overlie a piece of copy to be typed, at the lower end of said copy, to support the copy against the standard.

3. A typewriter copy holder adapted for connection to the paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; means for pivotally attaching said standard to the paper table for swinging movement of the standard between a horizontal position against the paper table and a vertical, use position in which it extends upwardly from the paper table; collapsible frame means on the other end Vof the standard adapted for providing a back rest for a piece of copy to be typed; and a pair of hold-down arms connected to the standard at the first named end thereof and adapted to overlie a piece of copy to be typed, at the lower end of said copy, to support the copy against the standard, said hold-down arms being pivotally connected to the standard for swinging movement into and out of longitudinal alignment with the standard, the holddown arms when aligned longitudinally with the standard being foldable therewith to the rst named position of the standard, said hold-down arms when swung away from the standard diverging in a direction away from the first named end of the standard for engagement against a piece of copy at locations spaced transversely of the co y.

121-. A typewriter copy holder adapted for connection to the paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; means for pivotally attaching said standard to the paper table for swinging movement of the standard between a horizontal position against the paper table and a vertical, use position in which it extends upwardly from the paper table; and collapsible frame means on the other end of the standard adapted for providing a back rest for a piece of copy to be typed, comprising a plurality' of members pivotally connected to each other, said members being swingable about their respective pivotal connections between an inoperative position in which the several members are aligned longitudinally with the standard, for swinging with the standard to the first named position of the standard, and an operative position in which the members cooperate to provide a rectangular frame on the second named end of the standard.

5. A typewriter copy holder for attachment to a paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; clamp means at one end of the standard attachable to said paper table; a pair of hold-down arms pivotally connected Ato the standard by said clamp means, said hold-down arms being swingable about their pivot axis between an inoperative position in which they are longitudinally aligned with and are in superposed relation to the standard, and an operative position in which the'hold-down arms diverge in a direction away from the clamp means, the standard being swingable upon said clamp means between an inoperative position in which it extends horizontally along the paper table, and an operative position in which the standard projects upwardly from the paper table; and frame means on the other end of the standard, said frame means being foldable between an inoperative position` in longitudinal alignment with the standard and an operative position in which the frame means is extended to be disposed in back of a piece of copy supported against the standard.

6. A typewriter copy holder for attachment to a paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; clamp means at one end of the standard attachable to said paper table; a pair of hold-down arms pivotally connected to the standard by said clamp means, said hold-down arms being swingable about their pivot axis between an inoperative position in which they are longitudinally aligned with and are in superposed relation to the standard, and an operative position in which the ho1d-down arms diverge in a direction away from the clamp means, the standard being swingable upon said clamp means between au inoperative position in which it extends horizontally along the paper table, and an operative position in which the standard projects upwardly from the paper table; and frame means on the other end of the standard, said frame means being foldable between an inoperative position in longitudinal alignment with the standard and an operative position in which the frame means is extended to be disposed in back of a piece of copy supported against the standard, the frame means comprising a series of members including a first member pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the standard, second members connected to said first member at the ends of said rst member, and a third member connected to one of the second members, the several members being swingable about their respective pivotal connections into a position dening a substantially rectangular frame.

7. A typewriter copy holder for attachment to a paper table of a typewriter, comprising a standard; clamp means at one end of the standard attachable to said paper table; a pair of hold-down arms pivotally connected to the standard by said clamp means, said hold-down arms being swingable about their pivot axis between an inoperative position in which they are longitudinally aligned with and are in superposed relation to the standard, and an operative position in which the hold-down arms diverge in a direction away from the clamp means, the standard being swingable upon said clamp means between an inoperative position in which it extends horizontally along the paper table, and an operative position in which the standard projects upwardly from the paper table; and frame means on the other end of the standard, said frame means being foldable between an inoperative position in longitudinal alignment with 'the standard and an operative position in which the frame means is extended to be disn posed in back of a piece of copy supported against the standard, said frame means comprising a cross member pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the standard, a pair of side members pivotally connected at one end to the respective ends of the cross member, and a top member pivotally connected at one end to one of said side members, said 'top member and the other side member overlapping at their free ends for insertion of a piece of copy therebetween, the top member being of a slightly springable material so as to exert a pressure against the piece of copy tending to hold the same against said other side member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,537 Osborn May 2, 1916 1,221,369 Osborn n- Apr. 3, 1917 1,615,959 Slavik Feb. 1, 1927 1,808,796 Smyth June 9, 1931 

